Norfork Tw- Quarry Park To Confluence 12-9-10

[Ham]

Waited until they shut the water off before we statred. Got headed down the river around 10 AM. My Tarpon's first trip down the Norfork and I hope it won't be the last. Water gets skinny in a hurry and there was NO help from the current getting downstream. I pretty firm cold wind blew upstream most of the way.

I wasted too much time upstream from McClellan's. I finally started picking up a few fish once I got to Otter Creek.

I got one on a soft hackle and a couple on Woolies, but I could have just fished a egg pattern with a midge behind it under an indicator all day long. Very few other people on the water. Saw a few folks near Ackerman. Nice new emergency exit ONLY spot up from Ackerman.

Saw lots of fish. Only caught a few. I did get one real nice Brown. Not a giant, but a real pretty 16~17 inch hen. The rest of my fish were Rainbows.

Saw some nice midge hatches, but I guess the fish really wanted something smaller than size #20. I worked emergers thru the surface activity w/o any good takes.

I really wish I had taken a spinning rod to get even witht he trout in a hurry. I had a few spots that were loaded withtrout, but wind and current made the flyrodding pretty difficult.

Good thing it was real cold yesterday, because it still felt pretty darn cold on the water. I would have frozen to death if it had been 20 degrees or something.

[flytyer57]

I have a Tarpon 140 on order. Should come in later this month. I'd love to do that float someday. I thought of going down using my pontoon. We'll see what the spring holds for me.

i wanted to get out and fish the Norfork today, but I didn't wake up till almost noon and I'm not feeling too good today. Maybe the next dry warm spell will find me on the water.

[Ham]

The T140 is a favorite amongst saltwater anglers. I'm a little curious why you went T140 vs T120 though. The T140 will be a little harder to tote manually and a little harder to transport with a vehicle, but it will be able to carry a lot of stuff and will be faster down the creek.

When you get your boat, give me a hollar and we can self shuttle. I'd be glad to glean some fly fishing knowledge from you as well.

[ollie]

Did you have any luck down by the C&R area? I never caught many fish until I got down that ways. Actually have always done better past the Ace in the Hole area.

[flytyer57]

The T140 is a favorite amongst saltwater anglers. I'm a little curious why you went T140 vs T120 though. The T140 will be a little harder to tote manually and a little harder to transport with a vehicle, but it will be able to carry a lot of stuff and will be faster down the creek.

When you get your boat, give me a hollar and we can self shuttle. I'd be glad to glean some fly fishing knowledge from you as well.

I would have gone with the T120, but the T140 is only 2 feet longer. Plus it's 3 inches narrower. I do plan on taking it out on Lake Norfork. That's the main reason I went with the T140. A little longer and narrower so it should have a little less drag in the water for when I'm on the lake. I don't see having any problems on Crooked Creek or the Buffalo or any other river with it. My main concern was using it on Lake Norfork.

We'll definately have to plan getting together some time.

[Ham]

I caught some just below Ace in the Hole. I think. I don't know all the names of the places on it. I caught some below Ackerman as well. I 16 to hand, but I should have caught 50.

[ollie]

Ace in the hole is that hole after a ledge across the stream. My brother fell in there one time when we stayed there the weekend! lol Just reminded me of that time. I love fishing that tailwater, wish I could get down there again.